This month Walmart’s DIY Challenge was to do something to get ready for spring.

Now, there are lots of great DIY projects out there to get ready for spring-gardening, spring cleaning, Easter, porch and patio decorations. . . but when it’s 30 degrees out and the kids keep having school canceled for snow days it’s REALLY hard to think spring.

But I’m tough and I wasn’t about to let that stop me! I considered spring over a cup of *hot* coffee (to take the chill off) and I realized what I look forward to after a long gloomy winter is the light that comes with spring! Sunlight for warmth and sunlight just for the brightness it brings. The weather wasn’t cooperating and bringing me sunshine~so what could I do to invoke spring and bring some extra light into my home?

I decided to tackle a lamp that was living in Princess’s room.

Not exactly beauteous.

I bought this lamp back when I was in college (at Walmart I’m sure!) so this thing is over 15 years old. And ugly. And black. And did I mention ugly? Princess LOVES that she can aim the 3 lights in any direction, and it makes her feel very grown up to have a floor lamp. . . but it just didn’t go with her “rock star/princess diva” style. (note: that photo is not taken in her room-it was too messy! Her room is apple green with hot pink drapes)

Not to worry-there is nothing wrong with this lamp that a bit of spray paint can’t fix!  I went to the Walmart spray paint aisle to try my luck.

Walmart had the spray primer for metal that I needed, as well as this really cool Krylon Xmetals paint (in red & purple-I had to go with purple). . . the only problem was the Xmetals is sort of a glaze type thing–it actually has depth to it when applied–and to really get the full effect it is supposed to be applied over chrome or the special Krylon Xmetals Basecoat.  My Walmart, of course, was out of the base coat.  Never fear-I just bought some shiny chrome colored silver paint instead!

The process was easy.  Just follow my Lamp Revamp Tutorial, or read the written directions with picture below!

Floor Lamp Remake

Materials:

Metal Spray Primer
Spray Paint (silver & Xmetal)
Fine grit sandpaper
Painters tape
Vinegar
Cloth
and for extra bling: Rhinestones & E6000 glue

Instructions:

1.   Wash and/or degrease the surface.  I just use vinegar for this step. Dry well.

This is all you need to degrease with.

2.  Tape  off  with painters tape any areas you don’t want painted-like your light sockets, switches and cord.

3.  Lightly sand the surface with some fine grit sandpaper to “rough it up” and improve adhesion of the primer.

Yankee Bill did a great job scuffing this up for me!

4.  Wipe down to remove residue from sanding.

5.  Apply primer.   Do this in a well ventilated area and make sure to protect your floor with a drop cloth.

It's sad-but it already looks better just with the primer!

6.  Let primer dry completely.

7.  Apply base coat of silver.  Remember, it is better to do several light coats rather than try to do one thick coat and have the paint drip and run down your lamp.

I kind of like the silver. . . it would look great even if I didn't go any further.

8.  Let base coat dry completely.

9.  Apply over coat of Xmetals spray paint.  Again, it is better to build up several lighter layers with drying time in between.

See the difference multiple coats of the Xmetals paint make?

10.  Dry completely.

11. Glue on rhinestones carefully for added bling.

Bling is the thing I tell ya. . .

And now for the final, much more beauteous lamp:

Here the lamp is in her room.

A little better view of the details.

This project cost about $12 for the paints involved and $1 for the rhinestones.  I already had painters tape, sandpaper, E6000 glue and vinegar on hand.  If you didn’t buy the super cool, needs a special under coat type Xmetals paint and you skipped the rhinestones you could probably get the primer and a single color for about $7. For a more “adult” version they have some classy & great looking paints out there that look like oiled bronze, or beaten metal.

What do you think? Have you ever tried painting something like a lamp?

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.  See what my fellow Walmart Moms come up with!
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